The Hard Shoulder

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family. He joins Kieran to discuss the fallout of Trump’s trial, questions of Biden’s cognitive health and how close the election will be.Image: Jane Rosenberg

You will hear nothing about the Local, European or Limerick elections on the Hard Shoulder until everything is said and done; that is because of the broadcast moratorium.But what is a moratorium? And why do we have it?Reporter Josh Crosbie has been asking people if they know what a moratorium is and Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe to discuss.

Kieran’s guests are two lovely people who have joined forces to bring their loveliness directly into your ears via their new podcast ‘The Lovely Show”  Irish Comedians Justine Stafford and Kevin McGahern join Kieran to discuss what you can expect.Image: HeadStuff Podcasts

The number of former pupils from Spiritan schools reporting that they were abused now stands close to 300. Joining Kieran to discuss this further is Patsy McGarry, of the Irish Times. Also calling in is William, a survivor of abuse at Blackrock College to share his story. If you are a victim of abuse, there are resources for you - do not hesitate to reach out.National 24 hour helpline (Dublin Rape Crisis Centre) - 1800 77 8888Or, you can email [email protected]

A male contraceptive gel shows promising results in a clinical trial, but would you trust a man to remember his contraception?  Kieran is joined by Helena Tubridy, Fertility Coach and Ali Ryan, founder of Goss.ie, to discuss.

The European Central Bank has announced an interest rate cut of 0.25%.  So, how will this affect mortgage holders?  To discuss, Kieran is joined by Chief Economist for the BPFI, Ali Ugar and Managing director of Doddl.ie, Martina Hennessy. 

Newstalk's own Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. This series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week, Simon brought a selection of cream cheeses.

Britain, France and Norway have been assisting Ireland in locating Russian subs near Irish shores, but should we be concerned that we do not have the capacity to do this ourselves?Joining Kieran to discuss is Independent Senator for Trinity and Security Analyst, Tom Clonan.

The month of June is National Fostering Month in Ireland, so we wanted to delve into the world of fostering, understand what that life of a foster carer is like and the different experiences you can have.Kieran is joined by Theresa Hughey, who was a foster carer for 30 years and on the phone by former footballer and manager, Roddy Collins, who fostered his niece.

The Road Safety Authority calls for a clamp down on drivers that are caught speeding, with a proposed plan to double the points of drivers caught using their mobile phones from three to six.The proposed move is to combat the highest number of recorded road deaths in over a decade, after 81 people lost their lives on Irish roads already since the start of 2024.  What is the solution to reduce these numbers and make our roads safer?Joining Kieran to discuss this is John O’Brian, former Detective Chief Superintendent. 

Election day is nearly upon. Some may be set on who they are going to vote for on Friday, but many will be still unsure. WhichCandidate.ie is an online platform that helps inform voters which candidates best suit their values through a simple questionnaire. But, can an online questionnaire really help you decide who to vote for? Joining Kieran is co-founder of Which Candidate and Director for the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Limerick, Dr Rory Costello.

Why? That is the most asked question from kids! That’s according to a survey carried out by Tesco. “Where’s my…?” and “Do I have to go to school?” were the next most common daily questions. Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden was speaking to parents on the street to find out what are the most weird and wonderful questions they receive each day.Plus, Sheila O’Malley, Wellness Keynote Speaker in the Corporate Sector, joins Kieran to discuss child curiosity. 

The newly released album, “Small Town Heroes” by The 2 Johnnies is inspired by local characters and so-called legends. It tells a familiar story that is relatable to everyone who grew up in rural Ireland, and features songs like 'St. Patrick Drive a Honda Civic' and 'I’m So Hungover I Could Die'.Kieran is joined by the 2 Johnnies (Johnny O’Brien and Johnny McMahon) to tell more.

In a battle of the Macs – Supermac's has won another major trademark court battle in their long running dispute with McDonald’s. The Galway company has been given the green light to expand to other European countries following a landmark ruling. It's after the European Court of Justice backed the Irish fast food chain in a trademark row with McDonald's. Peter Leonard is a barrister who also presents the legal podcast 'The Fifth Court' and joins Kieran to discuss.  

A 23 old woman tragically lost her life in a dog attack in the Ballyneety area of Limerick county. It is being reported the dog was an XL bully on the restrictive breed list Joining Kieran for more information is Newstalk Reporter Jamie O’Hara. Also joining to discuss is Samantha Rawson, expert Dog Trainer and Behaviorist.

On the show the lack of garda checkpoints on our roads were discussed, and a lot of you got in touch. Today, we wanted to speak to regular road users on what they see out there on the roads.Kieran is joined by Ger Hyland, driver and President of the IRHA Damien, a taxi driver in Dublin and Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring.

There has been major news in the world of medicine.The world’s first vaccine for treating Melanoma, a common type of skin cancer, has shown extremely impressive results in trials. Joining Kieran to discuss the breakthrough and the development of cancer treatment is John Crowne, Professor and Consultant Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Group.

Irish beaches are known to be one of nation's best assets, and many of us may have ended up at them over the bank holiday weekend But what about those with disabilities? How can they enjoy our beaches this summer?Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird is disability activist and journalist and has been highlighting the inaccessible nature of our beaches, she joins Kieran to discuss.  

The Local and EU elections are nearly upon us, and campaigning is in full swing. Your door may have been knocked on, or your social media page may be getting flooded with candidates promoting their policies. But, how do you create election campaigns that cut through and resonate with voters? Kieran is joined by Derek Mooney, former Campaign Manager, to discuss.  

The UK Ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston joined Kieran to put his favourite book on the Hard Shoulder bookshelf!Favourite Book: The Masters, C.P. SnowHonourable Mention: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy, Larry TyeCurrently Reading: The Bee Sting, Paul Murray

Seaweed to you may just be something your dog eats on the beach, but the macroalgae has been described as having incredible benefits. Joining Kieran to discuss the amazing properties of seaweed is Mark Walton, Co-Founder of VOYA.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has announced that he expects an Irish Covid Inquiry. Is this a realistic goal for the government? And what should we expect?Joining Kieran to discuss is Executive Editor of the Daily Mail Group Ireland, John Lee and Professor Sam McConkey from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.

In the lead up to the Local and European elections, we're going to be out and about with candidates as they are on the campaign trail.This week, Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie joined multiple candidates on the trail both young and old - including one who’s 19, and another who’s 90!

Nigel Farage has made yet another return to frontline politics – he has announced that he will run as a candidate in the UK General Election for the Reform UK party and has taken the role of party leadership. However, Farage has gone a step further by suggesting that he could lead a 'reverse takeover' of Conservative Party.Kieran is joined by Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative Party MP and Minister and former Brexit Party MEP. 

The Central Statistics Office of Ireland (CSO) is celebrating 75 years collecting data. To discuss the history - and what has changed since its inception, Kieran is joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times Journalist and Historian and Sarah Jayne Tobin, Content Editor at Evoke and host of the ‘Inspire’ podcast.

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Social Media Content Creator Holly Carpenter to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists!

The festival season is beginning with Forbidden Fruit kicking off this weekend. Electric Picnic, All Together Now and Longitude are on the horizon and smaller festivals like Night and Day Festival in Roscommon are also taking place. They’re much beloved by patrons, but how important are these festivals, and more importantly how important are they for the artists themselves?Artist Nialler9 joins Kieran to discuss.

With summer well and truly upon us, and with BBQ’s and summer parties being planned, the Shame of having a messy garden may be playing on your conscience!  Joining Kieran to discuss summer garden maintenance is RTÉ’s Super garden Judge Monica Alvarez.

Off The Ball's John Duggan joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to discuss all kinds of cheesecake!

The big news recently is that Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records - the first time a US President has been criminally convicted.This is the latest scandal on Trump's CV, with his viability as a presidential hopeful still seemingly intact. But, what are the U.S presidential scandals that shaped US history? Joining Kieran to discuss is Newstalk’s Simon Tierney. 

Have we lost all respect for our older buildings?  Over the years Dublin city’s skyline has seen sometimes rapid and often not pleasant alterations. As new buildings shoot up, some of the old ones come down.  Joining Kieran to share their thoughts are James Kavanagh, social media Influencer and Roisin Murphy, Architect and Broadcaster.

For the June Bank Holiday Weekend another warning has been issued by Gardai to take care on the roads. A new addition to the garda checkpoints is mandatory drug testing. Those who are pulled over for dangerous driving will now be made to do a drug test, as well as for alcohol.Kieran is joined by Sergeant Gavin Coleman to discuss.

New research suggests that older people should be encouraged to be more sexual in nursing homes to look after their mental and physical health. Kieran is joined by Sex Educator Mary-Jane Fox to discuss why she thinks it’s important for elderly people to be more sexual.

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family.Jeff joins Kieran to discuss the Trump hush money trail while the jury debates, as well as Robert De Niro’s press conference outside the courthouse, where he called the former president a threat to democracy.Image: CNN

Now, if you were wondering how you can get best out of your fruit and veg, then we might have the solution for you.  Amy Cross, a Cookbook Author and founder of the money-saving food website ‘The Cross Legacy’, joins Kieran to discuss.Amy has some good tips on how to get the most longevity out of your fruit and veg to keep it fresh for longer. 

The completion of the Children’s Hospital in Dublin has (once again) been pushed out to February of 2025, with the overall projected costs being 2.2 billion euro. The hospital was initally meant to be finished in 2020…How did we get to this point, and why does this project consistently face delays? Kieran is joined by Paul Cullen, Former Irish Times Health Correspondent and Paul Davis, Procurement lecturer at the School of Business in DCU to discuss.Also joining Kieran for some reaction to the delay is Catherine Murphy, Social Democrats TD for Kildare North and Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

In the lead up to the Local and European elections, we're going to be out and about with candidates as they are on the campaign trail.This week, Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie joined Tánaiste Micheál Martin going door to door. He also joined Sinéad Lucey Brennan, Barry Andrews on the trail.

Now, the VHI Women’s mini marathon is set to kick off this weekend with many people out in force to taking in the run.  I have two women joining me now who will be part of the run this weekend, Katja Mia, Virgin Media Presenter and Ambassador for VHI Women’s Mini Marathon and Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly.Jess is running to raise money for the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, you can donate here: IDonate.ie/NewstalkOffTheBall 

It has been over a year since new laws were proposed that would make spiking with the intent to sedate or overpower for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act a stand-alone offence and would carry heavy sentences. This bill is currently working its way through the Oireachtas.Joining Kieran to discuss this further is spiking victim Jess Rolland and Mary Crilly, CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork (SVCC).

Newstalk's own Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. This series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week, Simon brought a range of ham!

Newstalk’s Henry McKean spoke to children in Turner’s Cross in Cork to get their thoughts on the European and Local elections.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and host of ‘Tech Talk’ joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week, Jess discusses how the National Broadband Plan isn’t actually near completion - as some articles may have you believe...

The 2024 Leaving Cert will kick off next Wednesday, but what is life like after the Leaving Cert? and is it the be all and end all?  Joining Kieran to discuss are Comedian Karl Spain, Elizabeth Oakes, Entrepreneur and owner of Pure Reflections and Marissa Carter, CEO and Founder of Coco Brown! 

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today has announced a Hospital Bed Expansion Plan, which will see 3,352 new beds around the country.  He joins Kieran to give more details and discuss.

If have used social media in the past few days you have probably seen the artificially generated image  “All Eyes on Rafah”  This image is being shared as apparently social media algorithms are suppressing politically sensitive content and the tame AI image can therefore increase awareness and reach. Joining Kieran to discuss the implications of this phenomena are Stephen O'Leary, Founder of Olytico and Eamonn Farrel, Editor of RollingNews.ie. 

Sean’s Bar in Athlone is seemingly the oldest pub in Ireland, saying it was established in 900 AD. Supervisor Ryan O’Connor joined Kieran to tell all about how the history and life of the pub that’s still going stronger than ever over 1,100 years later.Image: Sean’s Bar

Kieran’s guest nearly died after suffering a cardiac arrest on the side of the pitch before a county semi-final. When it happened, Cathal Joyce was a flying-fit 25 year old. One shock from a defibrillator at the venue revived him, and he was eventually fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) under his left collarbone. Now, Cathal campaigns for more access to defibrillators and tells the story of how it saved his life.  He joins Kieran to discuss.

The Hard Shoulder has been to Cork to meet candidates for the European Elections, last week we heard from Dublin – this week we are in Athlone to cover the rather sizable constituency of Midlands North-West. The constituency was a four-seater, but this election will see it grow to five. To discuss why they are running, as well as their platforms, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by: Lisa Chambers Fianna Fáil Senator and one of the party’s candidates for the European Election Ciarán Mullooly - Independent Ireland Candidate for the European Election Michelle Gildernew - Sinn Fein MP in Westminster and one of the party’s European Election candidates 

Kieran’s guest has written a comedy show all about his brain seizure. The result of which was that he discovered he had a brain tumour. He then takes you on his journey as he underwent neurosurgery to have it removed.  His tour ‘On I Bang’ is on at the Sugar Club on the 25th of June, with tickets on sale now.Miles Jupp joins Kieran to discuss.